ICT as an informative tool is about how we receive, process and transfer data for learning and teaching. One of the key takeaways for me was about the integration of traditional and modern learning into one, known as blended learning which is important in the digital age. It is not just about conceptual text or words on a screen; it comprises a mixture of multimedia like images, audio, videos, interactive simulations which are all available in today's world. This ICT integration, as the instructor emphasized, caters to different individual needs and can make complex concepts more easier and engaging.
I also found the discussion on the important advantages of using ICT as an informative tool particularly intriguing. It's not just accessing to more information but it's about how that accessibility can change the teaching and learning style. Our tutor highlighted how ICT can empower learners to become active researchers, encouraging learners to drive deeper into the lessons, chasing our curiosity, and develop important research abilities. We also emphasized on developing critical thinking which is also very crucial. We discussed how the large amount of knowledge available online helps in development of the ability to evaluate sources, know which is right and wrong information, and check various points of view on a topic.
On top of that, we discussed on how a role of a teacher changes due to the integration of ICT as an informative tool in class. Instead of being the only source of information and giving simple lectures, the teacher guides students through the change in learning strategies, taking students through various types of resources online, and promoting the development of communication and literacy skills. The teacher is then turned into a facilitator who guides when in need and retracts when unnecessary. This helped me understand that learning is more of collaboration and development of student centeredness.
We were provided with examples on the use of Interactive Simulation which we learned in our first year, that showed us the practical applications of ICT as an informative tools. We were made clear that ICT is not only about teaching how to handle and manage computers but about how we receive and interpret information we gain, then putting them into practice. They are crucial to the growth of learning experience, offering opportunities for wider range of information gaining and application.
However, there are some important points we must keep note of. It's not only about researching and gaining information. It's important for teachers to design learning activities in such a way that the learning encourages students to actively engage with the topic, and construct their knowledge based on it. The tutor stressed the need for teachers to facilitate students in the process, helping students to develop the skills in an effective way, put them into practice and utilize the various resources available online.
Eventually, the class gave a comprehensive overview of ICT as an informative tool, focusing more on its potential to recreate learning by offering access to vast resources, encouraging critical or creative thinking, and encouraging self centered learning. I understood that the importance of ICT as informative tool is not just using technology in class but also integrating it creatively into modern practices or methods to increase it's importance in the 21st century. I stepped out of class with a new idea that ICT is an transformative tool for teachers and students.
